What are the responsibilities and job description for the Branch Outreach Contractor - Culinary Teaching Artist position at YMCA of the North?
The Harold Mezile North Community YMCA is seeking a Culinary Arts Teaching Artist to lead a six-part family cooking workshop series funded by a Cargill grant.
These interactive classes will bring families together to learn practical cooking skills, explore nutrition education, and build positive food habits that can be incorporated into everyday life.
Workshops will focus on meal preparation, healthy eating, kitchen confidence, and culturally relevant cooking practices in a welcoming and engaging environment.
The series will culminate in a community meal event, celebrating the participants' learning and reinforcing the importance of family meals.
The ideal candidate is passionate about teaching, food justice, and community health and has experience working with families and diverse age groups in culinary and nutrition education settings.
Key Responsibilities : Facilitate hands-on family cooking workshops, teaching practical skills for meal preparation and healthy eating.Create an inclusive and welcoming environment, engaging participants of all ages and skill levels.Incorporate nutrition education, helping families make informed food choices based on budget, seasonality, and dietary needs.Teach fundamental kitchen safety and sanitation practices, ensuring best practices for home cooking.Encourage family participation and teamwork, reinforcing positive mealtime habits.Support families in applying lessons to their cooking and shopping habits, helping them feel more confident in preparing nutrient-dense, home-cooked meals.Collaborate on the culminating community meal event, where families cook and share a meal together.Assist in data collection and evaluation, tracking participant engagement and program impact through pre- and post-session surveys.
Qualifications Professional experience in culinary arts, nutrition education, or community health.
Experience teaching or facilitating cooking classes for families, children, or mixed-age groups.
Passion for health equity, food access, and nutrition education.
Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
Ability to incorporate culturally relevant recipes and cooking techniques.
Background in food safety and sanitation practices.
Must pass a background check.
Time Commitment & Compensation Program Timeline : All workshops, data collection, and the final community meal event must be completed by June 30, 2026, in alignment with the Cargill grant terms.
Location : Harold Mezile North Community YMCA Compensation : Contract-based, commensurate with experience Additional Notes This is an independent contractor position.
While the primary responsibilities are outlined, flexibility is expected as the program evolves.
The Teaching Artist will work closely with the Executive Director and Program Coordinator to align activities with the Cargill grant deliverables and support families in building lasting, healthy food habits.
The final community meal event will serve as a culminating experience, celebrating participants learning and strengthening community connections through food.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pledge The Y of the North is committed to the work and everyday practices of eliminating disparities and eradicating of unjust systems to become a multicultural, anti-racist and anti-oppressive organization.
YMCA of the North team members and volunteers must exemplify the associations mission, vision and values of caring, equity, honesty, respect and responsibility.
The YMCA of the North continues to develop plans and strategies to ensure team members and volunteers reflect the demographics of the communities we serve.
We will continually conduct institutional racism and oppression review of our policies, procedures and practices in recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a multicultural, anti-racist and anti-oppressive work environment and culture that promotes equity and respect for the human dignity of all.
We value and respect this diversity and choose to be inclusive through our acceptance of all.
